China auto show: Chevrolet Volt gets a crossover sibling

April 21, 2010

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Combine the Chevrolet Volt's series-hybrid powertrain with a small crossover that looks a lot like the Chevrolet Orlando concept, and you get the Volt MPV5 concept that Chevy is rolling out at the Beijing motor show.

The Volt MPV5 concept adopts some styling features from the Volt sedan to reduce aerodynamic drag--a grille with active openings that close to smooth airflow over the car and a pan that closes off the underside. The concept also builds upon the Volt platform.

The MPV5 wheelbase is stretched 0.6 inch from the Volt sedan, but the crossover concept is seven inches longer at 180.5 inches and nearly three inches wider at 73.7 inches.

The five-passenger crossover gets its instrument panel and center stack from the Volt sedan.

Chevy says the lithium-ion battery pack can propel the MPV5 for about 32 miles. Then a 1.4-liter engine kicks in to power a generator to extend the range up to 300 miles. The MPV5's top speed is pegged at 100 mph.